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Citizen Archivist Missions

Contribute!

Ready to start tagging and transcribing? We've curated these topical missions to help you jump in and contribute! Click on a topic that interests you, and it will bring you right to those historical records in our Catalog. Tagging and transcribing makes these records more accessible to everyone. New missions are added and updated regularly, so check back often to see what’s new.

New to our Citizen Archivist program? Learn how to register and get started.  

Looking for a previous mission? Visit Mission History

ATTENTION:

  • We've made changes to the contribution panel, check out Get Started Transcribing if you need instructions.
  • Users need to log in and log out of their Catalog accounts each day so that if so if our developers make any code changes to the Catalog overnight, your account and Citizen Archivist experience will work properly.

RevWar Banner

Revolutionary War Pension Files Transcription and Tagging Missions

The stories of over 80,000 men and women who lived through the American Revolution are waiting to be told. Will you help us tell them?

Join the transcription mission!                        Join the tagging mission!

 

Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs)

Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs)

Help us transcribe records about Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) from the U.S. Air Force and the Federal Aviation Administration. Records include civilian and military eyewitness reports, case files, transcripts and interviews.

Closure Files, 1957 - 1983

Closure Files, 1957 - 1983

Transcribe materials loosely related to the closure of Mount Edgecumbe Boarding School at Sitka, Alaska in 1983. There is correspondence related to the closure as well as general correspondence having to do with physical property needs, personnel management, recreation supplies and other administrative matters.

Native American Patriots

Native American Patriots

While their pension files may not mention race, through extensive research the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) have identified Native American Revolutionary War Veterans. Help us transcribe the pension files of these patriots.

Subject Files Maintained by Lieutenant Colonel Hugo Graham De Burgh

Subject Files Maintained by Lieutenant Colonel Hugo Graham De Burgh

Transcribe letters, memorandums, reports, cables, instructions, and other records maintained by the commanding officer of the Allied Screening Commission.

Records of the Committee on Fair Employment Practice

Cultural Resource Management Records, 1955–2014

Help us transcribe National Park Service cultural resource program management records relating to historic, architectural, archaeological, environmental and other aspects of national parks, military parks, historic structures, and historic sites.

Inmate Case Files

Help us transcribe individual inmate case files. The files vary from inmate to inmate, nearly all include a "Record Sheet" that gives the inmate's name; registration number; alias; crime; sentence in years, months, and days; court fines and costs; and more. Most files include a "mug shot" photograph of the inmate with front and profile views.

Index to Photographs of Personalities in the General Photographic File of the Department of Navy, 1941 - 1945

Index to Photographs of Personalities in the General Photographic File of the Department of Navy, 1941 - 1945

Help us transcribe a name index to informal and candid individual and group photographs of U.S. Navy service personnel.

 

Case Files of Japanese American Prisoners Sent to the U.S. Penitentiary, McNeil Island, 1935–1949

Case Files of Japanese American Prisoners Sent to the U.S. Penitentiary, McNeil Island, 1935–1949

Help us transcribe correspondence and case files relating to Japanese-Americans interned at Heart Mountain Relocation Center in Wyoming. Files document Japanese-American men convicted of violations of the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 by refusing to register and report for the draft.

Don't Leave Us Hanging

Don't Leave Us Hanging

Help us complete these records that have not been fully transcribed.

 

Questions? Email us at citizenarchivist@nara.gov

Outside the Box Missions

Up for a challenge or something different? We often have records that require special work in order to make them more accessible. 

New to our Citizen Archivist program? Learn how to register and get started. 
Already have an account? Login here.

Chinese Heritage

Chinese Heritage

Help us transcribe and tag records related to the Chinese Exclusion Era. We need your help transcribing these immigration records and tagging very specific details that will help provide greater access to these records. Please read the instructions on the mission page carefully and begin contributing.

Join the mission

Featured Court Case

The International Union, United Automobile Workers of America, a Voluntary Association vs. John L. Carey, Mayor of the City of Dearborn; Carl A. Brooks, Chief of Police of the City of Dearborn; the Ford Motor Company, Henry Ford and Harry Bennett

Transcribe an equity case that involves a dispute between the United Auto Workers (UAW) and the Ford Motor Company, the mayor and chief of police of Dearborn, Michigan, and Henry Ford and Harry Bennett, the internal security agency chief. The UAW was attempting to distribute their union newspaper, the United Automobile Workers, to employees leaving the Ford Dearborn plant, and were assaulted and prevented from distributing it by the defendants.

Start transcribing now

 

 

Transcriber Task Force

Transcriber Task Force

Seeking expert transcribers! We’ve gathered records that have tricky elements for our expert transcribers. You may find only a few pages that are difficult or the whole record. If you’d like to join our Transcriber Task Force and get emails for special projects, send us an email citizenarchivist@nara.gov

Get started transcribing!

1950 Census Transcription Projects

The 1950 Census is here! We're looking for help transcribing the initial name index for the 1950 Census. While you can transcribe any name or any page within the 1950 Census, we've identified several specific areas where we'd like your help transcribing.

Help refine the 1950 Census name index!

 

Featured Records

Jump in and help us transcribe these individual records. Documenting events throughout United States history, transcribers of all skill levels are sure to find something new and interesting in these featured records!​

Beginner

  • Department of National Defense, National Defense Conference on Negro Affairs Transcribe this record.
  • 74-3471: William L. Calley, Jr. v. Howard H. Callaway, Etc., et. al. [9 of 16] Transcribe this record.
  • Public Law 87-370: An Act to Amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 and Incorporate Therein Provisions for the Payment of Annuities to Widows and Certain Dependents of the Judges of the Tax Court of the United States, and for Other Purposes Transcribe this record.
  • Letter from Charles Fahy to Secretary of the Army Frank Pace Transcribe this record.
  • Statement by Thomas Capuano, Mennonite Central Committee Transcribe this record.
  • Cable Number 2484, General Headquarters, A.E.F, 28 April 1919 Transcribe this record.
  • Memorandum to Assistant Attorney General Holmes Baldridge Transcribe this record.
  • Memorandum, Racial Breakdown of Civilian Personnel According to Civil Service Classification Transcribe this record.
  • Correspondence Between E. W. Kenworthy and Major General James E. Edmonds, with Attachments and Related Material Transcribe this record.
  • Report, Report on Japanese Assets in Manchuria to the President of the United States Transcribe this record.

Intermediate 

Advanced 

 

Questions? Email us at citizenarchivist@nara.gov

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